Question 169·Easy·Form, Structure, and Sense
The college library, along with several adjacent study rooms, ____ undergoing renovations this semester to create more collaborative spaces.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
For subject–verb agreement questions, first strip away interrupting phrases such as "along with," "as well as," or prepositional phrases, and identify the core subject. Decide if it is singular or plural, then immediately eliminate any choices that don’t match that number. Next, use time clues (like "this semester," "last year," "now") to choose the correct verb tense. Reading the sentence quickly without the extra phrase ("The college library ___ undergoing renovations this semester") can make the correct form stand out.
Hints
Find the main subject
Focus on the words before the comma. What is the main noun doing the action: is it one thing or more than one thing?
Ignore extra phrases for number
Treat "along with several adjacent study rooms" as extra information. If you remove that phrase, what subject is left, and is it singular or plural?
Use the time clue
Look at the phrase "this semester." Does it suggest something happening now, already finished, or long ongoing? Which helping verb before "undergoing" fits that time idea and matches a singular subject?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the true subject
Look at the part of the sentence before the comma: "The college library" is the subject. The phrase "along with several adjacent study rooms" just adds extra information; it does not change the subject to plural. So the subject is singular.
Decide if the verb should be singular or plural
Because the subject "The college library" is singular, the helping verb that comes before "undergoing" must also be singular. Eliminate any choice that would only be correct with a plural subject.
Match the tense to the time phrase
The phrase "this semester" shows that the renovations are happening currently and over a period of time, which calls for a present progressive tense (present "be" + "undergoing"). Among the options, only "is" makes a correct singular present progressive verb phrase: "is undergoing".